Compare towns
Stoddard vs Upton vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Stoddard | Upton | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072 |
8,189Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stoddard and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
| Upton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.